Circuit testing device



Aug. 1, 1950 L. ROGERS ETAL CIRCUIT TESTING DEVICE Filed March 29, 1947 INVENTOR LEON/1RD ROGERS RflPHF/EL ROEERS BY ATTORN Y iatented Aug. "1, 1 950 CIRCUIT TESTING DEVICE Leonard Rogers, New York, and Raphael Rogers,

Bronx, N. Y.

Application March 29, 1947, Serial No. 738,184

This invention relates to devices for testin fuses, three phase lines and other electrical apparatus or circuits. More particularly, the invention deals with a device of this type andkind in the form of a socket having means whereby a drill or other electrical tool or appliance can be plugged into the socket, thus avoiding the necessity of carrying a long extension cord, and providing means for keeping the electrical tool in close proximity to the work being done. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separateparts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged sectional view through a device made according to our invention; and

Fig. 2 is a broken section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing only part of the construction.

In practice, asocket part I is provided comprising two similar casing portions I I--I I and as these casing portions are of the same structure, the brief description of one will apply to the other. I

Both casing portions are composed of any suitable insulating material and comprise a wide end I2 and a narrow end I3. In the wide end are two electric bulb sockets I4 and I5 which open outwardly through diverging wall portions I6 and Il, the latter joining a straight wall portion I8 centrally of the wide end I2. The parts II-I I have an undercut recess I9 opening through the straight end I8 and also two similar recesses and EL All of these recesses open into a ring shaped recess 22 centrally of which is a round hub portion 23 through which one fastener device or screw 24 is passed. Another similar fastening device 25 is passed through the body DOrtion 26 at the contracted end I3. At each side of the body portion 26 are channels or recesses 2'! and 28 in which are arranged the spring contacts 29 and 30 to establish electric contact with a con ventional electric plug in establishing electric 3 Claims. (Cl. 175183) I 2 recesses 21-28, 33-34 and 35-36 in atransverse recess 40. I

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that both sides of each casing II-I I are identical, therefore, the formation of one casing will serve for use in constructing the two casing parts. Secured and retained within the undercut recess "I9 of the casing parts is a long conical flexible rubber sleeve or shoe 4I through which is passed a conductor 42 to the outer end of which is secured a spring to clasp device 43, the jaws 44 of which are preferably contained within the outer enlarged end 4|" of the sleeve M. The flexible sleeve will permitcompression of the jaw sides in opening the jaws to establish engagement with a part to be tested, which is engaged by the jaws 44.

The inner end of the conductor 42 is arranged in an insulating jacket 42 and the conductor extends to and is suitably secured to a contact plate 45, as indicated at 46. The plate 45 extends from the spring contact 36 to the "the clamps 43, the clamps 5I and 52 being contained in short conical jackets, sleeves or shoes 53-54 of flexible rubber or other insulating ma- I terial. The wire 49 passes around the circuit body 23 and is secured to the center terminal 55 of the socket I4, as is also a contact plate 56 coupled or secured to the spring contact 29 and arranged in the recess35. The other wire 50 passes around the body 23 and extends to and is coupled with the center terminal 51 of the socket I5. At 58 and 59 are shown el'ectricbulbs in threaded en- I gagement with the sockets I4 and I5. It is also preferred that the contact plates 41 and 56 be cut out where they cross each other, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing and suitable insulation, as at 66 may be supported upon the plate 53 a the cutout portions thereof.

In tracing the circuits from the contacts 2936 of the socket, it will appear that one linejof the circuit from the contact29 extends to the center contact 55 to the bulb 58 and from the bulb socket I4 back to the contact 30 through the plate 41. This keeps the light or bulb 58 on for supply- I ing illumination, particularly when the test device is used in dark places where illumination is desirable. The other bulb 59 comprises a test bulb and the circuit of this bulb is traced as follows.

From the contact 29 through plate 56, wire 43 3 to clamp 5|. Then from clamp 52, through wire 58 to the center terminal 51 of socket l5 and from the socket through the connection or plate 48 to the spring contact 39.

In using the device to test fuses, the two clamps 5| and 52 are used and if the fuse is good, the bulbs 58 and 59 will be illuminated, whereas if the fuse is burned out, the circuit to these bulbs will not be completed. This testing is done primarily on fuses of what are known as thr e phase lines, each bulb being one hundred and ten volts. two hundred and twenty.

In doing electrical work, or in fact, any type of work, particularly in an unlighted area, the device may be used to contact with an electric circuit of an apparatus or the like, contacts being established by applying the clamp 44 to the The test then takes place on a hook up of ground side of the line and clamp 5| to the live side of the line. This connection will complete the circuit to the built) 58, which then provides a source of light for the area in which the .work is done, and further completes the circuit to the spring contacts or terminals 29 and 30 so that an electric drill or other electrical tool can be plugged into the socket and used at the area where the inspection and work is being conducted, without the need of running an extension cord from other source of electric supply.

The device can be conveniently used in making all types and kinds of electric repairs or in- .stallations, renewal of sockets, outlets and so forth. Any type of one hundred and ten circuit can be tested by first connecting the clamp 44 with the ground side of the line and then either one of the clamps 51- 52 with the live side of the line and if the circuit is complete, the bulb .or lamp controlled by the clamp 5l-52 will be illuminated. In short, the device provides an all-purpose tester as well as what might be termed a short, circuit extension to which electric tools and thelike can be conveniently plugged in at the place where the work is being per formed. Circuits maybe tested to electrical devices plugged into the socket or engaging terminals 29 and 39 by connecting .5! and 52 with a source of electric supply and if the circuit to the electrical device is complete or good, the lam 5 w be ill mi t d brigh ly, wh r as .if the circuit is broken, both lamps will be dim. This is in testing the standard type of circuits.

Having fullydescribed our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

l. A device of the character described comprising two similar casing parts of insulating material, said parts having a contracted plug socket end and an enlarged bulb socket end, a pair of spring contacts in the plug socket end, a pair of threaded sockets in said bulb socket end, said threaded sockets comprising shells and center terminals insulated from the shells, three conductors arranged between and extending outwardly from the casing pants intermediate said shells, one of said conductors being coupled with the center terminal of one of said threaded sockets, another conductor being connected with the center terminal of the other threaded socket,

means placing one of said spring contacts in Circuit with both of said shells and the third conductor, and means placing the other spring contact in circuit with the center terminal of one only of the threaded sockets.

2. A device of the character described comprising two similar casing parts of insulating material, said parts having a contracted plug socket end and an enlarged bulb socket end, a pair of spring contacts in the plug socket end, a pair of threaded sockets in said bulb socket end, said threaded sockets comprising shells and center terminals insulated from the shells, three conductors arranged between and extending outwardly from the casing parts intermediate said shells, one of said conductors being coupled with the center terminal of one of said threaded sockets, another conductor being connected with the center terminal of the other threaded socket, means placing pne of said spring contacts in circuit with both of saidshells and the third conductor, means placing the other spring con- .tact circuit with the center terminal of one only of the threaded sockets, and said casing parts having common recesses at each side portion thereof for reception of electric connections between the various parts of the casing.

23. A device of the character described comprising two similar casing parts of insulating material, said parts having a contracted plug socket end and an enlarged bulb socket end, a pair of spring contacts in the plug socket end, a pair of threaded sockets in said bulb socket end, said -.t hreaded sockets comprising shells and center terminals insulated from the shells, three conductors arranged between and extending outwardly from the casing parts intermediate said shells, one of saidconductors being coupled with REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,596,684 .Propp Aug. 17, 1926 2,167,209 Huskey -l July 25,- 1939 2,186,212 scoggin Jan. 9, 1940 2,195,975 Ribble et al. Apr. 2, 1940 2,229,927 Kamper Jan. 28,1941 2,289,187 Gardner July 7, 1942 FQREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 95,103 Austria Dec. 10, 1923 

